Home Office

Drugs: Crime

baroness kennedy of cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to tackle the problem of "cuckooing".

baroness williams of trafford: Drug dealers taking over the properties of vulnerable adults to use as a base for dealing drugs, or ‘cuckooing’, is a known feature of ‘county lines’ model of drug dealing. Tackling county lines is a priority for this Government and our recently published Serious Violence Strategy sets out the wide range of action to tackle this issue, including raising awareness in key sectors of county lines and the associated exploitation which can include ‘cuckooing’.In July 2017, we published guidance for professionals to enable them to spot the signs of exploitation and respond appropriately. In addition, we have disseminated information and advice about the issue through a variety of channels including targeted workshops for the housing sector. The next phase of the ongoing nationwide county lines awareness-raising work will be focused on the housing sector, and will include targeted messages through sector bulletins and newsletters as well as specially designed posters and leaflets.

Drugs: Crime

baroness kennedy of cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of children "going country" to deliver drugs.

baroness williams of trafford: The National Crime Agency’s 2017 threat assessment of county lines set out the most up to date anaylsis of the threat posed by county lines and the number of ‘deal lines’ and children being exploited through this form of drug dealing.The report is clear that further work is needed to determine the true nature and scale of children and vulnerable adults being exploited through county lines, although it is estimated to be in the thousands. A more detailed intelligence picture will be generated as part of the work of the new National County Lines Co-ordination Centre that was announced in the Serious Violence Strategy and which is expected to be fully operational later this year.

Gangs: Young People

baroness kennedy of cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to help young people exit gangs.

baroness williams of trafford: The Serious Violence Strategy sets out a range of initiatives including the Ending Gang Violence and Exploitation (EGVE) programme to support young people to exit gang lifestyles. This includes working with Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on a range of initiatives including sports and arts programmes, and work with the Department for Work and Pensions to continue to support work coaches for gang affected young people.Through our EGVE Fund we support local initiatives. Last year we supported 16 projects including gang and county lines awareness training for young people, practitioners and foster carers; community sports and arts provisions; mentoring programmes; and young people’s safeguarding workshops.We have also provided funding for Redthread to expand their youth violence intervention scheme outside of London. This initiative involves youth workers being embedded in Accident and Emergency departments to talk to young victims of violence at the critical ‘teachable’ moment. They offer intervention support to all assault victims aged from 13 to 20 to prevent them from joining a gang or to help established gang members reassess their life choices. In addition, we are funding Young People’s Advocates in London, Manchester and Birmingham to enable direct support to young women and girls who have been victims, or are at risk of, sexual violence by gangs, including those involved in county lines.

British Nationality: Children

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many registrations for British citizenship for children at a fee of £1,012 they anticipate processing in 2018–19; and how much they estimate (1) they will generate in revenue from such registrations, and (2) this will cost to process.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office does not publish estimated forecast volumes for border, immigration and citizenship applications by category.The Office of National Statistics (ONS) publish historic statistical information which can be found via the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-october-to-december-2017/how-many-people-continue-their-stay-in-the-ukIn 2017 ONS statistics show 28,628 grants of citizenship for registration of minor children related to a British citizen or on a discretionary basis. The Home Office publishes a list of Border, Immigration and Citizenship (BIC) application fees and estimated unit costs for 2018/19. The fee and cost to process applications for child registration can be found on page 13 of the following link (see attached document)https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/691200/Fees_Unit_Cost_Table_-_April_2018.pdf



Fees Unit Cost Table - April 2018 
(PDF Document, 836.33 KB)

Home Office: Staff

lord marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers byLord Henley on 10 January 2012 and 13 March 2012 (HL14312and HL16133), how many members of Home Office staff have been convicted of criminal offences in connection with their official activities since 21 December 2011; and in each case, what was the (1) name of the offender, (2) date, (3) nature of the offence, and (4) sentence received.

baroness williams of trafford: Since 21 December 2011 there have been 22 convictions of Home Office staff in connection with their official activities. All the officers were subject to appropriate disciplinary procedures and were ultimately dismissed as a result of their conviction.After careful consideration our decision is to continue to withhold the names of those convicted as per our previous reply on the matter. We will continue to provide the number and nature of the offences, dates of conviction and sentences received.The following table below shows the breakdown of convictions and dates: ChargesConviction dateSentenceMisconduct in public office9th March 2012Four years and three monthsMisconduct in public office29th June 2012Four yearsMisconduct in public office13th July 2012Nine yearsAssisting unlawful immigration16th October 2012Nine months suspended, 240 hours community service and electronically tagged for three months.Misconduct in public office15th May 2013Four yearsTwo cases of Data Protection Act offences – obtain/disclose personal data8th October 2013One year conditional discharge and £100 costsMisconduct in public office, assisting unlawful immigration31st January 2014Two years for misconductSix months assisting concurrentMisconduct in public office and two counts of computer misuse11th September 2014Two years for misconductOne year for computer misuse (all suspended for two years as wife was ill and children to look after) concurrent300 hours of community service during suspended sentence20 counts of computer misuse2nd February 2015Five months, each charge concurrent (suspended for one year as wife was ill)Perjury, assisting unlawful immigration9th April 2015Police cautionConspiracy to defraud, money laundering17th April 2015Three years and six monthsTwo counts of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office and two counts of unlawful provision of immigration advice5th June 2015Two years and three monthsTwo counts of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office5th June 2015Six months suspended for two years and 180 hours unpaid workThree counts of theft, two counts of fraud and one count of misconduct in public office10th June 2015One year suspended for two years, 250 hours community service and £1000 towards court costsFraud by abuse of position4th August 201528 weeksComputer misuse15th September 2015Caution for offences contrary to section 1(1) and (3) of the Computer Misuse Act 1990Two counts of misconduct in public office10th December 2015Nine months, suspended for two years and 200 hours community serviceFraud by false representation12th July 2016Sentence of one year, suspended for 18 months and 300 hours community service. Electronically tagged for four months Conspiracy to defraud27th October 2016One year custodial sentenceTheft12th April 2017Sentenced to six months, suspended for two years and 150 hours of community service12 counts of computer misuse11th September 2017One year, suspended for two years and 200 hours unpaid work and court costs.Assisting unlawful immigration9th April 201811 years

Home Office: Staff

lord marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government what lessons have been drawn from the conviction and sentence to 15 years imprisonment in April of Shamsu Iqbal an official in the immigration department of the Home Office for falsifying the immigration records; and what steps have been taken to improve the recruitment procedures of the Home Office.

baroness williams of trafford: New measures were put in place following the arrest of Mr Iqbal to prevent further abuse. This included improvements to the change of address and subject access request processes. Further improvements will be made as part of the implementation of a new immigration computer system.The Home Office conducts pre-appointment checks for all externally recruited staff in line with the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard which is available on the GOV.UK website.

Crime: Foreign Nationals

the earl of sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government what statistics they have about the level of crime in the UK over three years committed by (1) Albanians, (2) Kosovars, and (3) Macedonians.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office does not hold the information being requested. The Home Office receives police recorded crime data from forces in England and Wales but does not receive information on nationality of suspect within these data.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Dulwich Hamlet Football Club

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress theyhave made in appointing an independent mediator to seek a way forward in the dispute involving Southwark Council, Meadow Partners and Dulwich Hamlet FC.

lord ashton of hyde: The Minister for Sport and Civil Society is continuing to monitor the situation with Dulwich Hamlet FC. Should negotiations with Southwark Council and Meadows Park around the sale of the Champion Hill stadium fail then she will take appropriate action, including considering appointing an independent mediator who can help try to find a solution that works and, importantly, has the football club as its primary consideration.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Carillion: Company Accounts

baroness bowles of berkhamsted: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the independence of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) investigation into the accounts and audit of Carillion for the years to 31 December (1) 2014, (2) 2015, and (3) 2016, in view of the FRC’s 2016 publication, Disclosure of Dividends Policy and Practice, whichset out Carillion’s 2015 accounts as an example of best practice stating it was an example of “disclosure that details the policy and provides insight into factors relevant to the setting of the dividend.”

lord henley: The Financial Reporting Council (FRC)’s Financial Reporting Lab aims to highlight good corporate reporting practice as identified by investors. The Lab was not privy to the FRC’s investigations into Carillion’s accounts and audit as this regulatory activity was being undertaken by the FRC’s conduct teams. It would have been inappropriate for information on this work to have been shared with the Financial Reporting Lab. Sir John Kingman’s review of the FRC will consider all aspects of the FRC’s activities to ensure that they work effectively.

Companies: Ownership

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of historical British business brands that are owned by companies registered outside the UK.

lord henley: No such assessment has been made. The Government is committed to making the UK one of the best places to work, invest and do business.

Nuclear Power: USA

lord teverson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what further stages the UK's nuclear cooperation agreement with the United States has to pass before final ratification by both countries;and how long they estimate this process will take.

lord henley: The bilateral Nuclear Cooperation Agreement between the United Kingdom and the United States of America was signed on 4 May 2018 and the text of the agreement was transmitted by the President of the United States to US Congress on 7 May 2018, initiating the ratification process. Ratification in the US requires the agreement to remain in Congress for 90 joint sitting days, whereby the US Senate and House of Representatives both sit, and the consent of two-thirds of the US Senate. Congress also has the option of adopting either a joint resolution of approval, with or without conditions, or standalone legislation that could approve the agreement. UK officials have held detailed discussions with the US and both sides are satisfied that this process can be completed ahead of the UK’s withdrawal from Euratom. In the United Kingdom, the agreement will be presented to Parliament prior to ratification, in accordance with the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, during the course of 2018.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Libya: Freezing of Assets

lord empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 27 March (HL6294), what has been the outcome of their follow up with the government of Belgium regarding the reported disappearance of Libyan government assets frozen in Belgium.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Further to PQ HL6294, the Belgian Ministry of Finance has confirmed to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office that there has been no theft or loss of the UN-frozen assets of the Libyan Investment Authority (LIA) held in Euroclear Bank in Belgium.

Bahrain: Technical Assistance

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of claims in the reportTraining Torturerspublished by Reprieve and the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy that the UK funded and trained Bahraini institutions accused of covering up torture.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We note the recent report by Reprieve and Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy. We do not recognise the claim that UK assistance has contributed to human rights abuses. Its purpose and effect is to support positive reform and all of our support is regularly reviewed. Only by working with Bahrain can we bring about the changes we would like to see in the country.

Bahrain: Technical Assistance

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the alleged link between taxpayer-funded technical assistance programmes to Bahrain that started in 2012 and the decline in human rights including an increase of death row inmates.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We note the recent report by Reprieve and Bahrain Institute of Rights and Democracy. We do not recognise the claim that UK assistance has contributed to human rights abuses. Its purpose and effect is to support positive reform, and all of our support is regularly reviewed. Only by working with Bahrain can we bring about the changes we would like to see in the country.It is the long standing policy of the British Government to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances. We have reiterated this to the Government of Bahrain at senior levels and will continue to do so.

Bahrain: Technical Assistance

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether theyintend to publish the names of the implementers and beneficiaries of the taxpayer-funded technical assistance programme to Bahrain.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​The Government works with a number of implementation partners and beneficiaries to support Bahraini-led reform. These programmes aim to support progress on building effective and accountable institutions, strengthening the rule of law, and justice reform. All of our work is in line with international standards and aims to share the UK's expertise and experience. Any training provided by or on behalf of the British Government fully complies with its domestic and international human rights obligations. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is not in a position to make precise details available as we have a duty to maintain the confidentiality and confidence of our partners.

Bahrain: Technical Assistance

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of UK-funded oversight bodies in Bahrain such as the Ombudsman for the Ministry of the Interior.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Our Embassy in Bahrain has a continuing dialogue with the Government of Bahrain and all Bahraini human rights oversight bodies. The British Government believes that a body with the power to investigate allegations of mistreatment in a timely, independent and transparent manner can be of great benefit to Bahraini society.The Bahraini Ministry of Interior Ombudsman was established as an independent oversight body by Royal Decree in 2012. In 2013 the International Ombudsman Institute acknowledged that the Ministry of Interior Ombudsman fulfils its criteria for voting membership, stating that the organisation "is functionally independent of any public authority over which jurisdiction is held." It was the first organisation of its kind in the region and remains unique. In 2014 the Ministry of Interior Ombudsman's Office won the EU's Chaillot Prize for the promotion of human rights in the Gulf Cooperation Council.The UK welcomes the conclusion of the Ombudsman and Special Investigations Unit into the cases of Mohammed Ramadhan and Hussain Moosa, resulting in the Justice Minister ordering their cases be re-tried.

Iran: Religious Freedom

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of Iranian Sufi Gonabadi Dervishes being arrested and the treatment by Iranian authorities of Dr Noor Ali Tabandeh.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are concerned by the reports of arrests of Sufi Gonabadi Dervishes in Iran and the treatment of their spiritual leader, Dr Noor Ali Tabandeh, who is under house arrest. We call on Iran to respect the rights and freedoms of all its citizens no matter what their religion or belief.

Turkey: Detainees

lord balfe: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many representations they have made to the government of Turkey regarding individuals detained in prison in the last year.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We have made frequent representations to the Turkish government in the last year, including over the detention of Amnesty International staff and other human rights defenders as well as the imprisoned Cumhuriyet journalists. The Prime Minister raised the subject with President Erdogan during his visit to London in May.

NATO Enlargement: Georgia

lord balfe: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their policy position at the forthcoming NATO summit on Georgia's aspiration to join NATO.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK supports NATO's 2008 Bucharest Summit declaration that Georgia and Ukraine will become members of NATO, and continues to support NATO's Open Door policy, under which all European democracies are entitled to pursue NATO membership. The UK supports Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations and closer integration with NATO. We acknowledge the significant progress made by Georgia on reform and its continued commitment to NATO and international security.

NATO Enlargement: Ukraine

lord balfe: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their policy position at the forthcoming NATO summit on Ukraine's aspiration to join NATO.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK supports NATO's 2008 Bucharest Summit declaration that Georgia and Ukraine will become members of NATO, and continues to support NATO's Open Door policy, under which all European democracies are entitled to pursue NATO membership. Ukraine must now achieve the standards expected of an ally and be able to undertake the commitments and obligations of membership.

Saudi Arabia: Qatar

lord hussain: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the governments of Saudi Arabia and Qatar to resolve the dispute and to resume diplomatic relations between them.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We remain very concerned by the ongoing tensions in the Gulf. The Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and other Ministers engage with our Gulf friends to encourage de-escalation and that parties get firmly behind Kuwait's mediation efforts to resolve the dispute. We make it clear that Gulf unity matters to the security and stability of the region.

Saudi Arabia: Qatar

lord hussain: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the progressof the Kuwait-led peace initiative between Qatar and the Saudi Arabian-led coalition.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Kuwait has remained at the forefront of mediation in the ongoing dispute. The UK and other international partners have supported Kuwait's efforts. Substantive progress can only happen when all countries involved are willing to discuss demands that are measured and realistic. We urge all parties to resolve their differences and unite for the security and stability of the region.​

Israel: Gaza

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with other relevant parties to set up an independent, transparent investigation into all cases of death and injury in Gaza since 30 March; and what action they will urge to be taken at the United Nations if all parties do not comply with such an investigation.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK fully supports, and recognises, the need for an independent and transparent investigation into the events that have taken place since 30 March, including the extent to which Israeli security forces’ rules of engagement are in line with international law and the role Hamas played in events. The UK has called directly on Israel to carry out a transparent inquiry into the Israeli Defence Forces’ conduct at the border fence and to demonstrate how this will achieve a sufficient level of independence. This investigation should include international members and the findings of such an investigation should be made public.

Israel: Palestinians

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Prime Minister last discussed the future of the two-state solution with (1) the President of the United States, and (2) the Israeli Prime Minister.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​The Prime Minster spoke to President Trump on 19 December 2017, and discussed the different positions of the UK and US on the recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital. They agreed on the importance of the US bringing forward new proposals for peace and the international community supporting these efforts. When the Prime Minister met Prime Minister Netanyahu on 2 November 2017, she reiterated our firm commitment to a two-state solution as the best way to bring about stability and peace in the region. Most recently the Foreign Secretary spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu on 16 May and reiterated the need for progress towards peace.

Iraq: Elections

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what analysis they have made of the effect the victory of Muqtada al-Sadr in Iraq's parliamentary elections of 12 May will have on UK–Iraq relations and on the political situation in the Middle East as a whole.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: National elections on 12 May represented an important moment for Iraq. We note that the final results are yet to be announced, but we look forward to the announcement soon and will work with all political groups to encourage formation of an effective, inclusive government that addresses the needs and hopes of all Iraqi citizens.The UK and Iraq enjoy a strong bilateral relationship, share great hopes for the future and a commitment to work together in our common interest. We look forward to working with the next government to help deliver stability, security and prosperity for all Iraqis and across the wider region.

Ukraine: Armed Conflict

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the current situation in eastern Ukraine and the Donbass region following the failure of the ceasefire agreed on 26 March by the Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Ceasefire violations and casualties in the Donbas remain at a worryingly high level; the latest recommitment to the ceasefire on 26 March only lasted 10 minutes before Russian-led forces shelled Avdiivka with weapons proscribed under the Minsk peace agreements. Since the start of the conflict in 2014 the UN estimate that over 10,300 people have been killed and 25,000 injured. We remain particularly concerned about the impact of this conflict on the civilian population, including through civilian casualties and damage to critical infrastructure.We continue to support the French and German-led diplomatic efforts towards securing implementation by all parties of the Minsk Agreements, and in particular call on Russia to end its provision of weaponry and personnel to the separatists, and to use its considerable influence to get them to comply with their Minsk commitments.

Turkey: Elections

the earl of sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to promotedemocratic values and international human rights obligations being upheld in Turkey before, and after, forthcoming elections.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We raise issues of concern regularly with the Turkish government and have urged them to lift the State of Emergency, as well as to ensure that freedom of expression and other human rights principles are observed. The Prime Minister raised these issues with President Erdogan during his visit to London in May.

Turkey: Elections

the earl of sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government what specific measures they are taking to encourage free and fair elections in Turkey, and in particular to protect freedom of speech.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​​We are actively supporting the electoral monitoring mission of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. We are engaging with the Turkish government regarding preparations for the elections and have urged them to ensure the process is carried out in a transparent and democratic manner.

Turkey: Detainees

the earl of sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made representations on behalf of any named detained Turkish writers, journalists and opposition leaders in the last 12 months.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We have made representations on the cases of Taner Kilic of Amnesty International, the imprisoned Cumhuriyet staff and the ten human rights defenders known as the Istanbul 10. We have also expressed concern over the imprisonment of opposition politicians.

EU Enlargement

the earl of sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the recent EU summit in Sofia has strengthened their support for EU enlargement, and in particular the candidacy of Albania and Macedonia.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​The Government will continue to support countries committed to the EU accession process in meeting the necessary requirements, including Albania and Macedonia – this position is long-standing. As and when candidate countries have met the requirements for accession in full, it will be for those countries and European Union members at the time to decide on membership.

Balkans: Rule of Law

the earl of sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they are giving to reduce the incidence of crime and corruption and to promote the rule of law in the Western Balkans.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: At the EU-Western Balkans Summit, on 17 May, the Prime Minister made clear that strengthening the rule of law and tackling organised crime and corruption are central to our engagement on the Western Balkans. We have also increased our technical assistance to address these challenges. In October 2017, the Government launched the UK-Western Balkans Security Discourse to strengthen our security engagement with the region. The Western Balkans Summit in London will have an increased focus on security with the aim of fostering practical security co-operation between the six Western Balkans countries, as well as action to tackle corruption. As part of the Summit, the Home Secretary will host a meeting of Interior Ministers – the first time that this will be held under the “Berlin Process”.

Syria: Politics and Government

lord truscott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the long-term governance of Syria; and, in particular, whether they still consider that President Assad should only remain in office for a short transitional period.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​The rule of the Asad regime has caused untold human suffering in Syria, fuelled instability and terrorism and created the space for Daesh. We believe that in the long term Syria needs an inclusive government which can unite the country and protect the rights of all Syrians. A political settlement in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254 is the only sustainable solution to the Syrian crisis.

Russia: Diplomatic Relations

viscount waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the UK ambassador to Russia attended the recent swearing-in ceremony of President Putin; and if not, which extenuating circumstances prevented him from doing so.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Russian Federation attended the inauguration of President Putin on 7 May.

Cameroon: Politics and Government

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Cameroon to (1) end its military response to protests in Cameroon’s South West and North West regions, and (2) open a dialogue with Anglophone community to agree constitutional arrangements conducive to peace and stability.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: During her visit in February to Cameroon the Minister for Africa (Mrs Baldwin) met with the Prime Minister and the Ministers of External Relations, Territorial Administration, and Defence where they discussed the ongoing tensions in Cameroon's Anglophone regions. She reinforced the importance of respecting human rights in a challenging security environment. She also met with a range of Anglophone leaders to hear their concerns and throughout her visit stressed the need for peaceful, inclusive and purposeful dialogue. She has also written to President Biya and met with his Secretary General to urge dialogue.The Foreign Secretary met the Cameroonian Prime Minister during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and pressed for urgent action to resolve the dispute and associated violence. We continue to monitor the situation and engage constructively with both sides.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Birds: Conservation

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to protect the population of swifts in the UK and to ensure that the swift is not among those species given red list conservation priority by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds when it undertakes its next review in 2021.

lord gardiner of kimble: Swifts, like all wild birds, are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The UK is a signatory of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), which provides a global platform for the conservation of migratory animals including birds. A key aim of CMS is to agree internationally coordinated conservation measures throughout the range of migratory birds including swifts. In the 25 Year Plan the Government outlined the steps it will take to embed an environmental net gain principle for development. As part of this, we have recently consulted on strengthening the net gain for biodiversity requirement in the National Planning Policy Framework and are currently considering proposals for consultation on a mandatory approach to net gain for biodiversity in planning policy.

Flood Control: Finance

lord stone of blackheath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what funding they will make available in 2019–20 for nature-based solutions to reduce future flood risk in the UK, as recommended in the United Nations reportNature-based solutions for water, published on 19 March.

lord gardiner of kimble: Natural flood management (NFM) measures are often integrated alongside more traditional approaches in flood and coastal risk management schemes. This includes within the Government’s £2.6 billion six year capital flood and coastal erosion risk management investment programme.   The six year programme is focused on reducing flood risk to at least 300,000 homes, regardless of the type of flood risk management intervention, and the Environment Agency therefore does not hold a separate figure for annual natural flood management spend.   In November 2016, the Government announced £15 million to test natural flood management measures on catchment scale projects that:   reduce flood, or coastal erosion risk, to homes;improve habitats and increase biodiversity;contribute to research and development of NFM techniques and interventions; andsupport and promote partnership working with and between communities. The £15 million will be spent over the remainder of the six-year programme ending in March 2021, with £4.7 million of this Flood Defence Grant-in-Aid (GiA) funding forecast to be spent in the financial year 2019-20 on NFM.

Fishing Catches

lord jopling: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the percentage of fish caught within the UK's territorial waters that is caught by British registered fishing boats.

lord gardiner of kimble: In 2015, British registered vessels landed approximately 35% of the total weight of landings from the UK’s territorial waters (0-12 nautical miles) and the UK’s EEZ (12 -200 nautical miles or the median line with other Coastal States) combined. Estimated total landings from this area include those by UK, EU, Norwegian and Faroese vessels.